Common Concerns

The ruling party supremo cautions the Indian leadership of the perils of instability in Nepal

By BHAGIRATH YOGI

The six-day visit by ruling Nepali Congress president and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala to New Delhi last week was covered widely in the Nepalese media, but for all the wrong reasons. "Koirala speaks against his own government", "NC chief begs support for his reinstatement", "Koirala aide holds secret parleys with Maoists", were some of the headlines of daily and weekly newspapers known for their biases against the ruling party president.

"Koirala asked for military support from India, since the Royal Nepalese Army was incapable of fighting the Maoists," reported a vernacular Indian daily, Aaj, in a news report datelined Motihari, Bihar.

But those keeping tab on the importance given to Koirala's visit by the Indian authorities said the elder politician started his lobbying from the point where his disciple, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, had left during his visit to the southern neighbor last month. "Stability in Nepal is very much important for the security and stability of India," Koirala told top Indian leadership including Premier Atal Behari Vajpayee. Quoting his late brother B. P. Koirala, the junior Koirala said democracy and constitutional monarchy should go hand in hand in Nepal for the stability of the country, that could only promote the peace and security of its giant neighbors India and China.

That Koirala had been able to strike a chord with the Indian leadership became apparent with the sudden malicious attacks unleashed against him by the "forces of instability" through the media, say analysts. "If Koirala succeeds in bringing the Maoists into the political mainstream through his proposition of ëBroader Democratic Alliance,' it could be a great contribution to the country, democracy and its institutions," said a political analyst. "So, for Koirala replacing the government of his own disciple-turned-rival (read: Deuba) has turned out to be an issue of lesser importance."

Addressing a meeting of his party's lawmakers in the capital Monday, Koirala said efforts should be made both at the political and security levels to tackle the Maoist insurgency. "The government must keep its doors open for dialogue with the Maoists while strengthening the security apparatus," he added.

As the Maoist leadership may no longer enjoy safe haven on Indian territory as the insurgency has come under added international focus, giving them a chance for safe-landing while protecting country's vital interests has become a Himalayan task. But such an effort will certainly hurt the vested interests created by the insurgency itself. Hence, the fresh wave of media attacks against the Nepali Congress strongman.